Erias Nalukoola has taken the oath of office as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North. Speaker Anita Among led the swearing-in ceremony in her chambers while Parliament remains in recess to handle policy statements.
Explaining the decision to hold the ceremony in her chambers, Speaker Among emphasized the importance of ensuring that the people of Kawempe North have representation. “We will not deprive the good people of Kawempe of their representation, which is why we are swearing him in here. The law requires us to do so,” she said.
She confirmed that Nalukoola now serves as a full member of the 11th Parliament, gaining all the privileges of an MP, including a government-provided vehicle and fuel.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi formally presented Nalukoola for the swearing-in. After pledging to defend the Constitution of Uganda, Nalukoola concluded his oath with the words, “So help me Allah.” He then received a copy of the Constitution and the parliamentary rules of procedure.
Nalukoola, who secured 17,980 votes in the election, was accompanied by his father and notable dignitaries, including Hajj Takuba and Anthony Asiimwe, the Vice President of the Uganda Law Society.
In his speech, Nalukoola expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and stressed the urgency of addressing key issues affecting Kawempe North, particularly the ongoing floods that continue to disrupt residents’ lives.
Speaker Among acknowledged these concerns, while Ssenyonyi noted that although they had preferred a formal swearing-in at Parliament, they accepted the outcome given the challenges surrounding the election.
Describing Kawempe North as a political “battlefront,” Ssenyonyi reaffirmed their commitment to serving the constituency.
With this swearing-in, Kawempe North regains its parliamentary representation following the tragic arrest and eventual passing of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya. Nalukoola plans to focus on resolving key constituency issues and ensuring that residents’ voices are heard in Parliament.
